Gooserider:
Re this:
Actually I suspect that you would find anything more than a high threshold to be more of a challenge than you’d expect when pushing a wheelbarrow or other heavy load. I think there’s a reason in addition to safety why every device I’ve ever seen for getting stuff up steps has been designed to be PULLED rather than pushed, and that is the way the our bodies are designed. We can exert more energy, more effectively, when pulling something up the stairs from in front, than we can pushing it from behind. I have a very slight slope (maybe 2-3 inches in 15 feet?) going from the woodshed to our driveway, and a 1/2” or so bump going from the dirt onto the pavement, and even that tiny bit is easier to get over when pulling rather than pushing.
I used to deliver respiratory therapy stuff to home care patients when I was younger, and it was not a big deal to drag 150 lb Oxy cylinders up a flight of steps, but it was done by pulling, not pushing…
I know you're correct--we can pull much more than we can push (if we can get a secure stance, as we can on stairs) and I believe that is because we can lift more than our own weight. Also, when pushing, we're often limited by the traction under the feet.
Having said that, I routinely run a heaping-full wheel barrow into my cottage, up north, on a single board laid down in the doorway. Admittedly, it's only one step high, but what I'm contemplating at home is only two steps high, then across a landing, and up 3", so I could use one long board or two ramps. So I do have some experience with wheel barrows going up hill. You're right, it's not easy--I have to take a little bit of a run at it, to get up the one step, and yes, two would be worse.
But you've sold me on the bicycle wheel cart--thanks!
Elk: Unfortunately, unlike you, I don't have a covered porch--if I left the barrow outside, it would get wet/snow, etc.... I gotta have something that wants to come inside easily. Consequently, I'm not "...making things more differcult than they have to be." Thanks for the curbside opinion, though.... :roll:
While we're on the topic you raised, however, and speaking strictly for myself, I actually view your wood sling as "...making things more difficult than they have to be"--no offense. I want to load wood just twice--once into the wheeled conveyence, (so that it's weight is on the planet's surface, and not on my back) and once into the stove. I will leave the additional, intermediary step of stuffing a sling full of wood,
after I've just loaded the wheel barrow, and
before I load it into the stove, to those disposed to such endeavors.
But I'll assume that, for your setup, with two stoves, loading it three times instead of two must somehow pay dividends for you. I won't assume that your house is just like mine...e.g., that we both have covered porches, or that we both have just one stove. Obviously, different setups will respond best to different solutions. ;-)
uch: :cry: If you look at most instructions on moving things with carts you will see the same advice to always stay uphill from the load.